God's Calling Card

Sometimes receiving a sign that God is orchestrating events can transform one’s life.

One afternoon, Toronto cardiologist Dr. Earl (Eliyahu Avraham) Nussbaum discovered that his secretary had mistakenly scheduled an appointment with him for an elderly woman, who had previously been seen by another cardiologist in his group practice. She was not even his patient. Moreover, he was supposed to pick up his daughter after school at that time at a bus stop exposed to the elements,

Though irritated, he knew his colleague would never agree to see a patient not on his schedule for the day, even if she was elderly and already in the office. So he met with her rather than raise a ruckus with the secretaries.

After speaking to the patient and examining her, he ordered a series of tests, and scheduled a follow-up appointment to go over the results. Her results were fine. But to his surprise, when Dr. Nussbaum informed the elderly woman that her heart was fine and her symptoms not a cause of concern, she showed no relief and remained completely affectless.

At that point, her husband confided to Dr. Nussbaum that his wife suffered from chronic anxiety and asked if he could prescribe some medication. "Nervous? What is there to be nervous about? You should be happy that your heart is okay!"

The husband indicated with a hand gesture that matters were not so simple, and looked to his wife for permission to share something private with the doctor. She nodded.

"We had a tragedy in our life," he began. Though it was not his style to be nosy, Dr. Nussbaum pressed him for further details.

"Thirty-five years ago, our 18-year-old daughter was killed when her car was hit by a garbage truck," the elderly husband continued. Dr. Nussbaum asked where the accident took place, and when he was told Montreal, he pressed for further details of the location. The old man answered, "In St. Laurent."

"I was there," Dr. Nussbaum blurted out.

The scene at the busy intersection at the end of the street on which he had lived as a child flashed vividly in front of him. A garbage truck had struck a small Austin mini on the passenger side, with such force that the front wheel of the truck was bent inwards. A body lay on the grass nearby, under a tarp.

Long after the gawkers had left the scene, the curious ten-year old remained. He was there when the truck from the morgue arrived and lifted the tarp to reveal a beautiful young girl, with long blonde hair. As the morgue workers lifted her, the young boy noted that there was no disfiguration of any kind. She appeared to be sleeping peacefully. Even the way her limbs hung, as she was being carried, did not suggest any broken bones. For over a week afterwards, Earl had nightmares every night, which left the scene permanently engraved in his memory.

Now, 35 years later in his office, Dr. Nussbaum related his tale to the still-bereft parents of that beautiful girl with the long blonde hair. Then, the trained cardiologist added, "She did not suffer at all."

"Really?" the old woman replied. "I saw her afterwards, and I always wondered about that."

With the benefit of his expertise as a cardiologist, Dr. Nussbaum recognized that death had been caused by the rupturing of the connection between the pulmonary artery and the aorta. At birth, the ligamentum arteriosum forms out of scar tissue, and connects the two parts of the circulatory system. In high impact injuries, that ligament pulls out of the aorta, like a plug ripped from its socket. Death is instantaneous. All this he explained to the victims’ parents.

Surely no “coincidence,” they felt that God had left them a calling card.

The three of them sat there overwhelmed by the sense that something supernatural had just taken place. What was the likelihood that, 35 years after the tragedy, this Jewish couple would meet a witness of the accident who was qualified to assure them that their daughter had not suffered? Surely no “coincidence,” they felt that God had left them a calling card. A calling card means that God was there, even though He was not seen at the time. If God had arranged this serendipitous meeting, perhaps He did care about them.

The next time they saw Dr. Nussbaum, he did something he never did. He handed them the book, Garden of Emunah, by Rabbi Shalom Arush. This blockbuster book asserts the foundations of Jewish faith [emunah]: that, despite appearances, everything comes from God and everything from God is good, although our limited human comprehension may not be able to see God’s hidden hand or the inscrutable goodness hidden in what we experience as painful.

A year later, Dr. Nussbaum saw the elderly couple again. They were so transformed from the previous year that he did not recognize them until they reminded him of the car accident he had witnessed as a young boy. They had undergone a total metamorphosis, and the elderly lady exuded happiness. They were the type of cute old couple younger people seize upon to offer hope of a joyful old age.

When, at the following year’s examination, the elderly couple still looked transformed and happy, Dr. Nussbaum couldn’t restrain himself from asking what accounted for the entire change in their demeanor. The elderly woman replied that the first step had been their amazing encounter; the second step had been reading Garden of Emunah, which had convinced them that everything comes from God and that He indeed orchestrates events for their ultimate, if not immediate, good.

Does God Care about Me?

A major theme of Purim is God’s hiddenness. The only book of the Bible in which God is never mentioned, the story of Megillat Esther seems to unfold through a series of coincidences and surreptitious happenings. Indeed, the period of the Persian exile, coming on the heels of the destruction of the Holy Temple, was a turning point in Jewish history. While the Temple was the locus of God’s revelation, its destruction ushered in the long, painful period of God’s hiddenness.

Yet, although we have no open miracles such as took place when the Temple stood, God does leave His “calling card” in many hidden miracles in our lives. When faced with painful experiences, we are all plagued by the questions, “Does God care about me? Does He notice me? Does He love me?” God’s “calling cards” are the subtle hints that indeed He does.

Sometimes, as in the case of this elderly couple, just receiving a single assurance that God is orchestrating events, can transform one’s attitude toward life.

Please use the comment section below to share God’s “calling cards” in your life.

Adapted by Sara Yoheved Rigler from a piece by Jonathan Rosenblum that appeared in Mishpacha Magazine.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 30

(30)
GG,
July 27, 2017 4:07 AM

God answers our prayers

I enjoyed your article

(29)
Elaine,
April 28, 2017 5:58 PM

G-d's calling card

A great commentary from Dr. Earl Nussbaum...he is a very caring, intelligent & extremely capable cardiologist & this is certainly a wonderful story that he related....we are fortunate to have him in our midst & we can all learn lessons from him ... Elaine Fromm

(28)
Reuven Frank,
March 11, 2016 7:06 AM

NOT a coincidence

I often wonder about this. My own story, of how I got to be an Orthodox, Torah-true Yid with six children, living in Jerusalem,would take up more than the allotted space.

It goes back three generations (not counting myself), andis FULL of "what if's".If my great-grandfather hadn't left Lithuania when he did,if my grandfather hadn't stayed in Philadelphia.Several experience my father had, andMANY that happened directly to me.

Coincidences, I don't believe in them!

(27)
Anonymous,
October 18, 2015 2:23 AM

Thank you

More than two decades ago my beloved husband was killed in a highway crash, from a high impact injury. I always wondered if his death was really instantaneous. In this article, the doctor's explanation of high impact injuries -- that "the ligament pulls out of the aorta, like a plug ripped from its socket," made me breath a sigh of relief. Thank you.

(26)
Zsolt,
April 9, 2015 1:58 AM

similarity of form

Thank you for the very moving story!To me the "take home message" from the story was how the cardiologist "facilitated the meeting/answering G_d's call" by a good and benevolent action on his own, helping out someone above self-calculation, against his own desire.As many of our writings suggest the most direct way of establishing a connection with G_d is through similarity of form, acting benevolently, with unconditional love and giving.

(25)
Anonymous,
March 26, 2015 3:20 AM

Hashem is always with us

Hashem leads the world in every way. We do not always know what is happening behind our back for our good. We only know what we see and think but we are not a partner in the decisions we make. Hashem protects us every day. If one lives a long life it is Hashem. If he thinks his life is short he does not know what was in store for him. In the end everyone will know what Hashem did for him.

(24)
Anonymous,
March 15, 2015 9:22 PM

Hashems calling card

Today I meant the sponsor of my readings of the Garden of Emunah on Kol Haloshon in my house @an ACoA meeting. Never met her. Bh, I am finishing that book iyh. BTW I am sitting in a indoor hotel garden texting this. Also just today I saw my readings in Garden of Emunah advertised in a magazine. Kol Haloshon 1718.963.6400 then press 1, 5, 4 & 13. It's in English! Talk about Hashems calling card!! Thanks. Sarah Yocheved.

(23)
shifrah kaliski,
February 25, 2015 1:04 PM

God's calling card

It's a wonderful story. I just have a problem with the fact that the couple suffered for such a long time, 35 years, before being able to come to terms with the tragic loss of their daughter.

(22)
SUZI,
February 24, 2015 7:17 PM

SERENDIPITY IS REALLY G-D

I LOVED THE STORY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT PUNCTURED ONE WHOLE IN THE GREY BALLOON OF SADNESS, WHICH SURROUNDS ME FOR THE LAST YEAR, OR SO. I VERY MUCH WANT THE "SERENDIPITY," TO BE "G-D"S CALLING CARD."

I JUST CAN'T STOP WONDERING ABOUT THE FACT THAT G-D IS THE ORCHESTRATOR OF ALL OF LIFE, AND YET THE HOLOCAUST HAPPENED. I CAN THINK OF TWO GOOD THINGS WHICH CAME FROM IT, BUT THE LOSS IS SO OVERWHELMING I CAN'T BALANCE THEM IN MY MIND. THIS IS ESPECIALLY SINCE SO MANY WERE GOOD, RELIGIOUS, KIND, SWEET, LOVING, PEOPLE WHO WERE TORTURED, STARVED, AND WATCHED THEIR CHILDREN, AND PARENTS, ETC. DIE. IF ONLY I HAD JUST ONE PEEK INTO HIS REASON, BUT I KNOW I CAN'T. THE GOOD THINGS I ALLUDE TO ARE: 1. IT MADE MORE JEWS BY THE NAZIS DECIDING IF YOU HAD ONE DROP OF JEWISH BLOOD THAT YOU WERE JEWISH. THIS HAS BROUGHT ABOUT PEOPLE NOW LOOKING INTO THEIR JEWISH HERITAGE, AND FEELING A CONNECTION, WHICH LEADS TO BEING JEWISH IN YOUR HEART AND SOUL. 2. IT DISPLAYED THE NEED FOR, CREATION, AND LOVE, FOR THE LAND OF ISRAEL, A "JEWISH STATE." THAT PHRASE ALONE IS PURE LOVE TO ME. WE ARE A PEOPLE, A COUNTRY, A FORCE FOR GOOD, AND A MITZVA FROM G-D. I USED TO NOT KNOW HOW WONDERFUL THIS MITZVA COULD BE. WE HAVE A RIGHT TO EXIST, G-D HAS SHOWN US THIS; EVEN AMONG ALL THE "HAMANS," ON THIS EARTH NOW AND BEFORE. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE HAMANS, AND YET, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE "SERENDIPITY."

THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER JONATHAN ROSENBLUM!

(21)
Anonymous,
February 23, 2015 2:01 AM

Very moving story

God's timing is perfect - sometimes we have to wait for an answer . It was well worth it !

(20)
rachel,
February 22, 2015 9:07 PM

first gift from husband who is deceased.

a short after my husband passed away, i could not find the ring he gave me. it was the 1st gift he gave me and i cherished it. i looked high and low and thought perhaps it had been stolen! a couple of years later, my home was hit by the 1995 northridge earthquake. most of the house had to be rebuilt. i was standing in the middle of my daughter jodi's room, which was empty except for the carpet. all of a sudden i felt something beneath my feet. Lo and behold it was the ring my beloved husband and soulmate had given me. i dropped to my knees knowing that Ronnie was indeed watching over me!!

(19)
Marlene Langert,
February 22, 2015 7:30 PM

No Open Miracles????

How can anyone say there are no open miracles. If one reads just these stories listed here, one realizes there are miracles every day. I do not believe that miracles became hidden after the destruction of the temple, nor during or after the Holocaust. God's miracles have always been around, amny people just refuse to see them or to honor them. Hence, they become non-believers because someone decided and wrote down that God was hidden when he never has been.

(18)
Tone Lechtzier,
February 22, 2015 5:50 PM

Me too...

Shalom, born aware of Hashem, I was shocked at three years of age upon realizing no one else I knew seemed to be!Around the same, a neighbor, Stevie, stood on the edge of his property, about ten feet higher than our property with a rock the size of a grapefruit poised over his head. He threw it at me with all his might, I was about twenty feet away. For unknown reason, I stood my ground. Just a few feet from me, headed for my chest, the rock veered of to the left at a right angle, crashing into our garden!On an early spring day, a friend & I went for a ride on our motorcycles. We were only fourteen at the time. Mine was a 1947 Velocette, I saved up for over a year to purchase. All was well until an iced over wooden bridge after a curve.The back tire was bald, and the brakes poor. I slid into the oncoming lane, almost touching a vehicle, the driver went white. At fifty miles per hour, I stopped inches short of a cliff with no guard rail. A few rocks tumbled down the thousand foot cliff, ocean at the bottom! [impossible to stop in that short of distance]Hashem has saved my life over seventeen times I'm aware of. As a disabled elderly Hermit Jew, gifted to live amongst ancient Junipers, X grid, high desert central Oregon wilderness, I wonder why? I'm totally sustained by Hashem.[ All comes from Above ] [ Ezekiel ]

(17)
Paul,
February 22, 2015 4:51 PM

my wife

In March of 2010 my professional life was turned upside down. "My hospital" illegally terminated our groups contract to provide Anesthesiology services with a mere 18 day notice, despite the fact our group of 32 had a 6 month notice spelled out in our contract. For 25 years I worked at this facility, most being the Chief, and felt I was thrown under the bus. 4/29 just a few weeks after the above act I met my wife.Just so happened that my birthday is April 30- the next day! She was so perfect for me and me for her. So many times I have said to her I wish I had met you 25 years ago, but it just wasn't the right time. She was sent to me by G_d and what seemed just a few weeks earlier that my life was turned upside down was turned right side up. 2 1/2 years later we married and it's like we've been together in a good way, life long. Since meeting her it's been lets move forward every day, not looking backwards. As for my professional life as an Anesthesiologist it could not be any better than what I "found" thanks to G_d's present and Linda

(16)
Betty J.Saunders,
February 21, 2015 8:48 PM

God is forever faithful

Very interested in learning more about Purim, enjoyed reading the comments.

(15)
Sarah,
March 15, 2014 3:04 PM

Orchestrated Coincidences

that is what I call all G-d's Calling Cards in my life. I have been blessed by them almost daily, I was raised to notice them so as not to take them for grated and remember from whom they came.

(14)
Anonymous,
March 15, 2014 3:02 PM

Hashem never leaves us

Hashem shows me his constant presence in my life through nature and animals.My mother passed away this past year and my husband of 30 years moved out. I am grieving the loss of both of them. Hashem had plans for a kitten that I had gotten for my husband and he did not want her. Now that I am alone and spend a lot of time alone this kitten is my constant companion. When I am crying out to Hashem and don't know if I can make it through another hour she will jump on my lap and rub up against me comforting me. When down and depressed I will hear a cardinal singing. The double rainbow in the sky reminding me that he NEVER breaks his promises. I thank Hashem for his love and kindness and his constant presence in my life!

(13)
Daralis,
March 15, 2014 12:36 AM

Scrapping by Death

Last week my friend called in distress. As I drove to speak to her and her husband, I had a feeling the woman in front of me was having car problems. Her car was sort of shaking and I felt it would stall and I would end up hitting her car. Since we were about to get on the highway I moved away from her into the left lane. Two miles down going down the hill, my car was running at 70MPH, I suddenly see a car parked on the left lane, just sitting there, no lights, no flasher, no nothing just there. I had no time to break, all this within seconds of course, and I still don't know how it happened, I saw a car next to mine, but I instantly had to get into the middle lane. I thought for sure I would die. Either I would crash at 70MPH straight ahead towards the parked car on the left lane of the highway or I would bump into the car next to me. By sheer miracle, I felt a moment of slow motion, and I got through the middle lane, as if I had squeezed between two cars. I have reviewed this tons of times in my head, like a movie, and I still cannot understand how it was humanly possible, yet G-d made it possible for me to live. After that scene, I knew my premonition with the shaky car was a sign to me that I could drive into a car, but never did I ever imagine, I would survive that scene. During I cried for Hashem and Once it was over I prayed for the person still sitting in that parked car on the left lane of the highway. I prayed for their safety, just as I had been saved from dying that day. I have a 23 year old daughter and I told her the story, she was very upset, but I wanted her to remember two things one to stay in the middle lane, and two that with G-d anything is possible and that He is always watching over his children. This is my miracle in the eve of Purim.

(12)
Anonymous,
March 14, 2014 11:04 PM

I am a firm believer that God is definitely in control

I am currently going thru a legal matter in which my ex wants to take our son from me. He did not decide to do this until I put him on child support for not doing his part. Our first court date was set for Jan 1. He had a lawyer and I did not. His lawyer called me out of the court room and said she wanted to reschedule due to so many people and she did not want to have to sit in there for hours. The judge rescheduled us for Feb 12 or at least we thought it was rescheduled. On Feb 12 I called the court to verify the court room I was suppose to be in and was informed by one of the clerks that she did not see anything scheduled for me. Long story short, the judge forgot to actually schedule it. We have now been rescheduled again for April and I now have a lawyer. I know without a shadow of a doubt God has orchestrated each time we were rescheduled and has given me time to get a lawyer and blessed me with another job. Hope this blesses someone.

(11)
Anonymous,
March 14, 2014 11:56 AM

I thank G-d for saving my life and making me a better person.

When I was 22 years old I was in a car accident in which my neck was broken. First of all it was a miracle by G-d that I am alive and walking today; I was told that just a hairline in the fracture would have been the difference between life and death., At the hospital I was in terrible pain but I did not want to take any painkillers. I started to say the Shema and I fell asleep. It was due to G-d's intervention that I am alive and well today.

(10)
Anonymous,
March 14, 2014 9:51 AM

My sister, a non-believer, has been out of work for ten months, becoming more and more depressed. Tremendously qualified, but in her sixties (let's not kid ourselves. It's a factor), she's spent thousands of hours online, sending out resumes and going for interview after interview after interview. On top of that, her unemployment benefits ran out. I've been davening (praying) for her.

Nothing.

Yesterday was the Fast of Esther - the most propitious time for requesting G-d for what one needs; it's the day the Jews begged for salvation from Haman during the original fast.

I said to G-d, "Okay, Hashem. This is the day to make a miracle. So please, please get my sister a job."

He did.

She got the call at about the time I was making the request. Happy Purim!

(9)
Anonymous,
March 14, 2014 1:43 AM

A Mitvah Repaid With A Mitzvah

My wife and I were living in Chicago. A rabbi explained that a young couple had just gotten married and they need us as a 10th for the last day of their Sheva Brocha. Although we did not know the couple, we agreed and went to the seuda. We found out that they were moving to Detroit and they needed help packing. So, we ended up helping them pack for the move. Everybody said goodbye, we thought that was it. Years later, I had to drive to Detroit for a conference. I took my wife and our infant son with. When we got to Detroit, our car the exhaust pipe disconnected from the car. The service repair man said it would take several hours to fix the car. It was winter and cold. My wife needed somewhere to stay with our infant son. We did not know anybody in Detroit. My wife was referred to a certain lady who does child care in her house. That lady was the Kallah we had helped move from Chicago. Obviously, she took great care of my wife and son. We have since moved to Detroit and we have become friends.

(8)
Sarah Rivka :),
March 14, 2014 12:16 AM

My whole life is full of calling cards from G-d....

...Just a simple example: Yesterday, G-d sent me flowers. I was walking along the sidewalk and I saw beautiful flowers in front of me. I picked them up and brought them home. Another time recently, due to my current financial situation I was worried about having enough vegetables at home. Then I found a giant cucumber that someone had dropped in front of my apartment building. "Cucumber from heaven" (instead of manna). :) Another time not too long ago, a certain appointment I had scheduled had to be rescheduled due to something that G-d did, and it turned out to work to my benefit. (Sorry to be so vague but I don't want to be too specific in a public forum.) Also, the way that G-d has put certain incredible people in my life over the last couple of years is certainly a giant calling card from G-d. Someone I know was miraculously able to drive a car that had run out of gas, until she was able to get to a gas station to refill it.

(7)
Tamah Davis,
March 13, 2014 10:58 PM

G-d's calling card through the action of a horse

I was riding a small horse that would never run but only trot or slowly gallop. I was riding on a country road up a hill where there were loggers in the area. When I neared the loggers, I kept nudging my horse to go faster to exit the area. The horse would not speed up. Suddenly I saw some men standing on the other side of the hill looking up towards me. They were just standing and looking. Suddenly, my horse stopped suddenly and I could not understand why. IN a moment, a huge tree fell right in front of him with branches barely scraping his nose. The men were so shaken , they stopped logging for the day. I got off my horse, lead him around the tree, then mounted him and trotted away. HaShem's intervention (calling card) was not obvious to me until about an hour later when I dismounted and thought about what happened. Indeed, HaShem left His calling card through my horse and His perfect timing. Thank God

(6)
Anonymous,
March 13, 2014 9:01 PM

I cannot believe that God would allow such suffering as exists in life. God set the planet, the world, in motion; created Nature and left each species to use its brain such as it is. God gave us each a brain to make the best of our life. And where possible to care for and be kind to each other.

(5)
Shmuel,
March 13, 2014 6:46 PM

G-D is in control

In HIS ineffable way G-D does intervene in lives that open their hearts and minds to HIM. There is a master plan underway.

(4)
Joanne Hein,
March 13, 2014 6:23 PM

This was a beautiful reminder!

Thank you for this story of God's constant presence and occasional calling cards.I received a great one last week. As a private practice speech-language pathologist, my office manager was setting up the patients for March on a form we use. The name of an old patient mysteriously populated a space on the form. He was a young man with a brain injury who dropped out of site about 3 years ago. I immediately appreciated this sign and emailed him. He gratefully responded and now we are getting together to provide him with help. The time was right for him and I look forward to his success in cognitive retraining. I am fortunate to notice many other calling cards from God and am always grateful - if it is a fig that started growing in July and just became ripe when my son was visiting last month or the dream I had of my husband - the night before I met him in 1977... I am sure I miss many, but none of these calling cards is too small to cause to me to miss the connection to God. again, thank you! J*

(3)
Marlene Langert,
March 13, 2014 5:05 PM

THere are many "open miracles"

I do not understand why Emunah says we no longer have open miracles. Babies births are miracles, I believe this story was a miracle, My grandson was led into his profession as a diver and marine biologist is a miracle that occurred from two bad incidents in his life which pulled him to his calling. He now is dving and researching sharks in Fiji. Pretty darn special and led by g-d. A friend had a little boy who was very ill. They had just moved to a new city shortly before the diagnosis.. THat city had the only hospital that could recognize and treat his son's disease. I believe these and many , many other stories are miralces, not just g-d's calling cards.

(2)
Anonymous,
March 13, 2014 4:27 PM

Great story

Thank you for this wonderful story to remind us that Hashem is in charge and loves us.

(1)
joana,
March 13, 2014 4:20 PM

thank you

A blessing, an assurance, A CALLING CARD. Stories help to make seen what is not seen. thank you